Compressed air maintenance device

Abstract

Besides the individual modules (1', 1'"), a compressed air maintenance device consisting of individual easily interchangeable modules (1), e.g. pressure regulators, oil atomisers (1'"), condensate separators (1'), in which the individual modules (1) may have emitters (8) for the actual operating status and/or predetermined limit values, also has an indicating and monitoring module (1") having optical and/or acoustic signalling devices (10) for the operational and/or fault status determined for the individual modules (1). Said signalling devices (10) can be easily coupled to the relevant emitters (8) of the modules (1). Any necessary maintenance work or operational breakdowns are thus easily recognizable.

We claim: 
     
       1. A compressed air monitoring device consisting of easily interchangeable individual functional modules (1', 1'"), wherein each individual module (1', 1'") includes at least one transmitter (8) for at least one of current operational status and predetermined limit values, characterized in that the compressed air monitoring device includes an indicating and monitoring module (1") in addition to the individual modules (1', 1'"), that this indicating and monitoring module (1") contains indicators (10) which transmit information on the at least one of the status and limit values of the individual modules (1', 1'"), and that the indicators (10, 10') are easily connected to the corresponding transmitter (8) on the individual modules (1', 1'"), the indicating and monitoring module (1") further containing common electric circuitry connecting the indicators (10) to the transmitters (8) from at least two individual modules (1', 1'").   
     
     
       2. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the individual modules (1) include hollow sections with undercut longitudinal grooves (23), which can be used to connect easily interchangeable adjacent modules (1). 
     
     
       3. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 2, characterized in that the ready interchangeability between adjacent modules is achieved with U-shaped clamps (22) whose limbs fit into longitudinal grooves (23) in the adjacent modules (1). 
     
     
       4. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 2, characterized in that each hollow section (2) has at least four longitudinal grooves (23, 23'). 
     
     
       5. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 4, characterized in that there are two spaced longitudinal grooves (23) the side of each adjacent module (1). 
     
     
       6. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal grooves (23) have an L-shaped profile and the limbs (24) have a U-shaped profile to match the clamps (22) (FIG. 4). 
     
     
       7. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the signaling and monitoring module (1") includes an interchangeable modular component (13), which contains at least one board (14) for the electronics of the indicators (10), with the board (14) including plug-in terminals (15) for transfer lines (9, 9') to the transmitters (8) of the modules. 
     
     
       8. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 7, characterized in that the modular component (13) can be inserted in the hollow section (2") along its axis and, furthermore, that there is an opening in the bottom of the modular component (13) to allow for the insertion of plugs (16) connected to transfer lines (9, 9') from the transmitters (8) of the modules (1', 1'"), which can be connected to the plug-in terminals (15). 
     
     
       9. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 7, characterized in that the modular component (13) includes a view plate (14'), located in front of the hollow section (2"), on which the optical displays of the indicators (8) are arranged in a visible manner. 
     
     
       10. A compressed air monitoring device consisting of easily interchangeable individual functional modules (1', 1'") wherein each individual module (1', 1'") includes at least one transmitter (8) for at least one of current operational status and predetermined limit values, characterized in that the compressed air monitoring device includes an indicating and monitoring module (1") in addition to the individual modules (1', 1'"), that this indicating and monitoring module (1") contains indicators (10) which transmit information on the at least one of the status and limit values of the individual modules (1', 1'"), and that the indicators (10, 10') are easily connected to the corresponding transmitters (8) on the individual modules (1', 1'"), the indicating and monitoring module (1") further containing common electric circuitry connecting the indicators (10) to the transmitters (8) from at least two individual modules (1', 1'"),   the signaling and monitoring module (1") including an interchangeable modular component (13), which contains at least one board (14) for the electronics of the indicators (10), with the board (14) including plug-in terminals (15) for transfer lines (9, 9') to the transmitters (8) of the individual modules (1', 1'");   the compressed air monitoring device being further characterized in that the modular component (13) includes an air adapter (19), through which pressure sensors (18) in the indicating and monitoring module (1") are connected to an air tube (5) that runs through all modules (1), whereby the air adapter (19) closes automatically when the modular component (13) is removed from the indicating and monitoring module (1").   
     
     
       11. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 10, characterized in that the air adapter (19) includes a hollow tappet (21), which is connected to the modular component (13) and with which an air adapter (19) valve unit (20) is held in its "open position". 
     
     
       12. A compressed air monitoring device consisting of easily interchangeable individual functional modules (1', 1'") wherein each individual functional module (1', 1'") includes at least one transmitter (8) for at least one of current operational status and predetermined limit values, characterized in that the compressed air monitoring device includes an indicating and monitoring module (1") in addition to the individual modules (1', 1'"), that this indicating and monitoring module (1") contains indicators (10) which transmit information on the at least one of the status and limit values of the individual modules (1', 1'"), and that the indicators (10, 10') are easily connected to the corresponding transmitters (8) on the individual modules (1', 1'"), the indicating and monitoring module (1") further containing common electric circuitry connecting the indicators (10) to the transmitters (8) from at least two individual modules (1', 1'"),   the individual modules (1', 1'") including hollow sections with undercut longitudinal grooves (23), which can be used to connect easily interchangeable adjacent modules (1), the compressed air monitoring device further characterized in that each module (1), that includes a corresponding hollow section (2), also includes a headpiece (3), which forms the upper edge of the hollow section (2), and that an air tube (5) is fed through this headpiece (3), and that, furthermore, each module (1) that includes a hollow section (2) also includes a base piece (4), which forms the lower edge of the hollow section (2), and that transfer lines (9) connecting the transmitters (8) and indicators (10) are installed in the base piece (4).   
     
     
       13. A compressed air monitoring device according to claim 12, characterized in that each headpiece (3) and base piece (4) pair tightly seals the corresponding hollow section (2), and that the hollow section (2), in direct combination with the headpiece (3) and the base piece (4), comprises the module (1) for one of a pressure regulator, condensate separator (1'), oil atomizer (1'"). 
     
     
       14. A compressed air monitoring device according to one of claims 1 through 13, characterized in that there is at least one slit-shaped opening (11), covered by a sealed window (12), in the hollow section (2).